Apparatus for plucking poultry



May 27, 1930. E. L. ARMINGER 1,760,392

APPARATUS FOR PLUCKING POULTRY 4 sheets-smet 1 Filed 0G11. 22. 1927 M0327, 1930. E. ARMINGl-:R 1,760,392 i I APPARATUS FOR PLUCKING POUTTRY Filed oct. 22. 1927i 4 sheets-sheen 2 lIHIMII'IUII'HUII lll lll

Mgy 27,' 1930.r E. L. ARMINGER l A 15760392 V APPARATUS FOR PLUCKING POULTRY Filed Oc'l'.. 22. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 577776Z ZIT/7a2? e7 & f

May 27, 1930. E. L. ARMINGER 1,760,392

APPARATUS FOR PLUCKING POULTRY Filed 001;. 22. 1927 4 SheetS-Sheet 4 Patented 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELMER L. ARIIINGER, or CHICAGO, ILLInoIs APPARATUS FOR PLUGKING PO'ULTR'Y Application filledy October 22, 1927. Serial No. 227,982.

briefly subject the fowl to a scalding bath in water at a temperature of substantially 212 F., which loosened the feathers sufficiently to permit a ready removal thereof. This prac- `tice was known in the trade as the hard scald,

and with this practice it was not essential to strip the feathers. immediately after the immersion of the fowl.

It later became-the practice to subject the ,15 fowl to immersion in a bath of water maintained at a temperature from 125 F. to 135 F., which was known as the slack or dry scald, and under this practice it was believed to be 'necessary to strip the feathers immediately after the removal of the fowl from the bath.

The slack scald was preferred to the hardl scald or the dry picking, because it was believed to better preserve the color and texture of the skin and to facilitate the final picking of the feathers.

It was also deemed necessary in the earlier practice, howsoever performed, to carefully time the period of immersion in order to permit an easy stripping of the feathers without injury to the skin or appearance of the fowl, although the hand methods employed in the carrying on of the work were not of a nature which permitted of precision either in the maintenance of proper temperatures or in the timing of the operations which were supposed to be requisite-for the best results.

' I have found thatmuch better results may mersed immediately after sticking and bleed.-`

ing, and provided the stripping be performed `almost immediately after the fowls are re- 45`moved from the bath, it being important,

however, that no delays intervene between the successive operations of sticking, immersing and stripping.

'fhe apparatus of the present invention is designed to properly time .and facilitate performance of the three operations in question,

Under the older practice, it was customary to' accompanying drawings, whereinso that the fowl suspended from a continuously moving conveyor will be progressively carried from point to point in timed sequence, thereby greatly facilitating the performance of the several operations and at the same time insuring precision in the timing relation from the point of delivery to the point of dis-. charge.

The invention further relates to the means for maintaining a proper circulation through the immersing bath; to the means for mainto the means for conveying the fowls therethrough and presenting them in the most con- V venient position to permit the sticking and stripping operat-ions to be performed at the proper time. y

" The invention further relates tothe method of sticking and stripping which permits the employment of a bath maintained at relatively low temperature, and to various details pertaining to the apparatus and method which will be particularly pointed out in the following specication in connection with the Figure 1 illustrates a side View of the apparatus; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing one of the weighted hooks employed for weighting the fowl after sticking;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the method of inserting the hook through the bill of the fowl; 1 I l Figli is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the tank showing the thermostatic control and the means for maintaining the circulation; y

Fig. 5 is a top orplan view of the same;

Fig. is a sectional detail of the steam discharge pipe; and surrounding water chamber;

taining a proper temperature therein; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the conveyor and associated mechanisms at the delivery end of the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail in plan, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a detail of the sprocket wheel. and supporting roller for the endless conveyor chain;

Fig. l0 is an enlarged detail of one of the brackets for securing the legs of the fowl in suspending it; y

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view through the tank, taken on line 12 -12 of Fig. 1.

The invention comprises a rectangular tank of sufiicient depth and capacity to permit the fowls to be completely immersed while suspended from one of theI brackets of lo the conveyor chain presently to be described. The tank at each end is provided with a group of four standards, 21, 22, 23, 24, which constitute portions of the framework designed to support an endless conveyor chain The tank also Aaffords support for the inner ends of lower frame rails 26 and 27, arranged in pairs, the former pair extending to what may be termed the feeding end of n the machine, and the latter pair extending to what may be termed the delivery end of the machine.

At the feeding end of the machine, the spaced rails 26 are carried by standards 28,

g5 and, similarly, the ends of the rails 27 are carried by standards 29, the arrangement of the standards 28 and 29 being, in each Iinstance, in a group of four, as, illustrated in detail at the right of Fig. 8. 30 The standards at each end of the machine extend upwardly from the floor level, so that their upper ends are at substantially vthe same height as that of the inner groups of standards secured to the tank. The end standardsy 28 have journalled thereupon a feeding sprocket wheel 30, and, similarl the end standards 29 have journalled t ereupon an idle sprocket wheel 31, which sprocket wheels carry the endless chain 25. The lower turn of the chain is carried around idle sprocket wheels 32 and 33 which are journalled at a lower level upon the inner grou s of standards, and between the sprocket w eels 32 and 33 the chain is carried downwardly and under a spaced pair of sprocket wheels 34 (see Fig. 12), which are Journalled immediately abo've the water level in the tank, so that the medial portion of the lower turn of the chain passes horizont'ally through'the tank at about the water level therein maintained.

The feeding sprocket wheel 30 is driven by a sprocket chain 35 from a sprocket wheel 36 on a counter shaft 37 carryin a sprocket wheel 38, which in turn is driven y a sprocket chain 39 which, through suitable connections, derives motion from a motor 40.

The arrangement of the chain is one which affords an interval of travel at each end of the tank, a eriod of descent toward the water level o the tank, a line of travel within the tank an ascent therefrom, and a final travel away from the tank, thus dividing thel travel of the chain into three periods, the first of which provides for the bleeding Wheels 32 and 33, which standards may be adjustably secured at the desired distance from one another.

The chain isprovided, at closely recurrent intervals, with laterally extending. pron ed brackets 41 (see Fig. 10), each bracket -bemg secured to a lug 42 outstanding from the adjacent link of the chain, and each bracket being provided, as shown, with lateral fingers 43, and a medial finger 44 in spaced relation to afford a pair of tapering grooves or recesses for the engagement of the legs of the fowl, as indicated in Fig. 11.

The `fingers 43 and 44 extend in oblique relation to the level/of the chain, and each of the lateral fingers is extended to furnish a terminal hook 45, which lhooks are carried over and rest upon a guide bar 46 which extends from a point near the sprocket wheel 30 continuously in parallel and proximate relation to the chain, being configured'to follow the line of travel thereof, so that the vguide rod furnishes a continuous support for the free ends of the. fingers to prevent tilting or tipping ,thereof when subjected to the weight of the suspended fowl.

The guide rod 46, as shown in Fig. l, terminates at a point slightly beyond the sprocket wheel 33, so that, at the stripping and delivery end of the machine, the ends of the fingers-will be free to permit the discharge and removal of the fowlv after the stripping of the feathers has been performed.

In order to provide for draining away the blood which drips from the fowls during the preliminary travel before immersion, a trough 47 is provided with a drain pipe 48 at its lower end. After the fowlsleave the bath. and are elevated to and over the sprocket wheel 33, the head of each fowl will encounter a tilting plate 49 (see Figs. l and 8), which plate occupies a sloping relation with respect to the frame and is given a spiral twist of 90, the inner orl forward end 50 lying in a horizontal plane, and the rear end 51 lying in a vertical plane, with respect to the frame. This arrangement permits the depending head of the fowl to drag along the tilting plate 49 and gradually swing inwardly and beprogressively relieved of the support afforded by the plate as the head and shoulders approach the rear end of the plate which stands in a vertical plane.

Above the tilting plate 49 is located a wedge-shaped ejecting plate 52 which is supported by a bracket arm 53 at a point in front of the conveyor chain, and in lsuch relation thereto that as the brackets are carried rearmodena wardl'y the fingers thereof will maintain roxirnate relation to a sloping upstandng ange 54'on the ejecting plate, which plate, being in oblique relation to the line of travel of the fingers, as shown in Fi .-7, will progressively disengage the feet o the suspend el, and, when unscrewed and removed, perf ing water from the water supply pipe, so thatl I a constant and properly directed ascending mits the tank to be drained, the opening a being alsoscreened to prevent clogging of the sewer pipe 55b by the feathers. The tank near its bottom is provided with a heating pipe 56 which receives steam through aA valved supply pipe 57, having in it a strainer 57 a, the supply of steam being controlled by means of a thermostat 58 of any suitable design which operates upon a valve 59 regulating the supply of steam.

In order to maintain a constant circulation, a water discharge pipe 60 is .locat-` ejected in conjunction with a jet of steam discharging from a nozzle 56El on the steam pipe 56.

The arrangement is one in which the jets of A Water discharging from the ends of the water pipe commingle with the water and steam ejected from the heating pipe in such a Way that the upwardcurrent established by the heating of the water will be supplemented by the directly discharged currents of incomcurrent may be maintained at all times fromy the bottom of the tank toward the top, which is l highly desirable in order to prevent any settling or accumulation of blood or refuse in v the bottom of the tank and to maintain a dow of water toward the point of discharge. ln order to prevent atilting or sagging of the upper turn of the chain, a pair of supporting sprocket wheels 62 are journalled prisinga shank 64 terminating in a hook 65 at its'upper end,and in a weight 66 at its lower' end, the, hook being inserted, as in Fig.' 3, through the bill of the fowl.

In fuse, after the tank has been filled with water to the overliow point, and after the water has been heated to the desired degree, preferably about in the present instance, the motor is started and the chain conveyor fed at the necessary speed to afford the des ired timed intervals for the sticking, immersing and stripping operations.

Each fowl, before being stuck, is suspended y by its-.feet from one of the brackets, the feet being inserted as the bracket passes `under the sprocket wheel 30 and before the hooked fingers of the bracket ride up on the guide rod 46. As soon as the hooked fingers engage the guide rod, any sagging down of the bracket under the weight of the suspended fowl will be prevented, and the slots between the fingers ofthe bracket will be closed to prevent the slipping out of the legs of the fowl. The inwardly tapering formation of the slots between the fingers, furthermore, tends to wedge the legs` against slipping, so that accidental displacement will be prevented. With the fowl in this position, the head will hang downwardly under the pull of the weight, and, during the interval prior to immersion, full 'opportunity will be aorded for the necessary draining of the blood from the fowl prior to the immersing operation.

After the fowl has been carried over the end `of the tank, the chain conveyor will dip downwardly, and the fowl will be immersed head foremost into thetank, and will remain in the tank during the interval of time required for the dipping operation, which interval will, of course, depend upon the speed of the chain and the length of the chain carried within the tank.

After the dipping is concluded, the fowl will be elevated to and over the sprocket wheel 33, and will then be carried along in position to be conveniently and readily stripped by the attendant `while the skin of the fowl is still wet and while the quills of the feathers are still loosened by reason of the immersion.-

rlhe provision of the spirally bent tilting plate at the stripping end of the machine facilitates the manipulation of the fowl during the stripping operation, and lby the time the fowl reaches the dischargefend of the machine the stripping will be concluded..

The arrangement is one which enables the fowl tovbe lcarried forward in uninterrupted progression and at timed intervals; and in view of the fact that the immersion will take place immediately at the conclusion of the a much lower temperature than has heretofore been deemed feasible for the purpose. Also, in view of thefact that the period of immersion will be uniform in each case, and the tem'perature of the water will be constantly maintained at the desired degree, the fowls will be delivered in much more uniform condition to the stripping point lthan would be possible by the employment of the hand methods previously 1n use.

Finally, the arrangement is one which delivers the fowls, conveniently suspended and supported, to the stripping point, so that it will not be necessary or the attendant to handle the fowls save to the extent and in the manner necessary to perform the stripping operation.

'1l-he apparatus is one which may be easlly constructed of stock materials at moderate cost, and its use will greatly increase the vspeed at which the fowlsomay be prepared and effect a large saving in labor cost.

I claim:

1. InA an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank, an endless conveyor mounted to travel in 'proximate relation to the intended Water level of the tank, and a plurality Aof fingered brackets carried by the endless conveyor, each bracket being adapted to receive the legs ofy a fowl, and a stationary guide member for supporting the free ends ofthe brackets, substantially as described. 4

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted to travel above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end, the lower turn of the conveyor overlying the tank being carried downwardly into the tank and then out of the tank and the upper turn extending in a straight line, and means Carried by the conveyor for suspending fowls therefrom for immersion in the tank, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the class described,

kthe combination of a tank, and endless chain conveyor mounted to travel above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end,

, the lower turn of the conveyor overlying the tank being carried downwardly into the tank and then out of the tank, and the upper turn extending in a straight line, and means carried by the conveyor for suspending fowls therefrom for immersion in the tank, said means being in the form of fin ered brackets adapted to receive and hold t e legs of the fowls, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted to travel above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end, the lower turn of the conveyor overlying the tank being carried downwardly into the tank and then out of the tank, and the upper turn lextending in a straight line, and means carried by the conveyor for suspending fowls therefrom for immersion into the tank, said means being in the form of fingered brackets adapted to receive and hold the legs of the fowls, and a guide rod extending in parallel relation to the lower turn of the endless conveyor and in position to support the free ends of the brackets, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted to travel above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end, the lower portion of the conveyor overlying the tank being carried downwardly into the tank and then out of the tank, means carried by the conveyor for suspending fowls therefrom for immersion in the tank, said means being in the form'of fingered brackets adapted to receive and hold the legs of the fowls, and an cjecting plate near the delivery end ofv the apparatus and extending in oblique relation lto the travel of the brackets in position to force out the legs of the suspended fowls from the brackets, substantially as described. f y

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted to travel above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end, the lower portion of the conveyor overlying the tank being carried downwardly into the tank and then out of the tank, means carried by the conveyor for suspending fowls therefrom for immersion into the tank, said means being in the form of fingered brackets adapted to receive and hold the legs of the fowls, a guide rod extending in parallel relation to the lower turn of 'the endless conveyor and in position to support the free endsJ of the brackets, and an ejecting plate near the delivery end of the apparatus and extending in oblique relation to the travel of the brackets in position to force out the legs of the suspended fowls from the brackets, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted above the .tank and extending beyond the tank at each end to afford sections for the initial bleeding of the fowl and for the Lfinal stripping thereof, the intermediate section of the lower turn of the conveyor being carried abruptly downwardly into the tank, thence parallel with the water surface in the tank, and then abruptly upwardly out of the tank, a plurality of brackets each provided with spaced fingers for engaging the legs of a fowl between the fingers, and means for supporting the free ends of the fingers against sagging, substantially as described.

8. In an -apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end to afford sections for the initialbleeding of the fowl and for the final stripping thereof, the intermediatesection of the lower turn of the conveyor being carried .downwardly into the tank, thence parallel with the water surface in the tank, and then upwardly out of the tank, a plurality of brackets each provided with spaced lingers for engaging the legs of a fowl between the fingers, and means for supporting the free ends of the fingers against sagging, said means being Ain the form of a continuously extending yguide/rod running parallel and adjacent to the conveyor from the forward end of the apparatus to apoint beyond the far side ofthe tank, sub-v stantially as described.

9. In ani apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated tank, lan endless chain conveyor mounted above the tank and extending beyond the tank at each end to aord sections for the initial bleeding of the fowl and for the final stripping thereof, the intermediate section of the lower turn. of the conveyorbeing carried downwardly into the tank, thence parallel with the lwater surface in the tank, and then upwardly out of the tank, a plurality of brackets each provided with spaced fingers for engaging the legs of a fowl between `the fingers, and means for supporting the free ends of'the fingers against sagging, said means being in the form of a continuously extending guide rod running parallel and adjacent to the conveyor from the forward end of the apparatus to a point beyond the far side of the tank, andan ejecting plate located in adjacent relation to the fingered brackets at a point beyond the termination of the guide rod and configured to force out the legs of the suspended fowls from between the bracket fingers, substanf tially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated tank, an endless chain conveyor mounted above the tank and extending vbeyond vthe tank at each end to ali'ord sections for the initial bleeding j of the fowl and for the final stripping thereof, the intermediate section of the lower turn of the conveyor being carried downwardly into the tank, thenceparallel with the water surface in the tank, and then upwardly out of the tank, a pluralit of brackets each provided with spaced ngers for engaging the legs of a fowl between the fingers, and means for supporting 'the free ends of the lingers against sagging, said means being in the form o a continuously extending guide rod running parallel and adjacent to the conveyor from the forward end of the apparatus to a point beyond the far side of the tank, an ejecting plate located in adjacent relation to the fingered brackets at a point beyondthe termination of the guide rod and configured to force out the legs of the suspended fowls tilting plate located b elow the ejector and spirally twisted to present its forward edge in substantially horizontal relation, and its rear edge in vertical relation, to the machine, substantially' as described. j

11. Inan apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a. tank, a conveyor extendr ing through the tank and beyond each end thereof to afford sections for the preliminary bleeding of the fowl, the immersion of the` fowl, and the final stripping of the fowl, means carried by the oonveyor'for suspending the fowl therefrom, overflow means for regulating the water level in the tank, heating means in thel base of the-tank, and a water inlet. arranged to discharge in proximate relation to the heating means in the ibase of the tank, for maintaining an upflow of water from the region of heating and water inlet to the point of overflow, substantially 'as described.

12. In'an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank, a conveyor extending through the tank and beyond each end thereof to afford sections for the preliminary bleeding of the fowl, the immersion of the fowl, and the iinal stripping of the fowl, means carried by the conveyor for suspending the fowl therefrom, overflow means for 

